2020 Sustainability Strategy – Half Year progress update

Picture caption: Westpac Institutional Bank’s Chief Executive, Lyn Cobley and Director of Infrastructure & Utilities, Greg Pauli join the Palisade Investment Partners team at the Ross River Solar Farm in Townsville, QLD as the first solar panels were being installed. The project is transforming a former 202-hectare mango plantation to create the largest single-stage solar farm in Australia.

07 May 2018

This year marks the start of our new 2018–2020 Sustainability Strategy (PDF 2MB), which outlines our commitment to building a sustainable future by taking action in the areas where we can have the greatest impact. Through our 2020 Sustainability Strategy we are challenging ourselves on ways to create the most meaningful economic, social and environmental impact.

Help more people better understand their financial position, improving their financial confidence

Continued to offer a range of products and services, including Westpac SmartPlan, an online tool to help customers manage their credit card balance and pay down their debts more easily; and Westpac Life, a flexible savings account that supports customers savings goals;

Delivered a range of financial literacy programs to individuals, businesses, not-for-profit organisations and community groups through the Davidson Institute in Australia and through Managing Your Money program in New Zealand; and

Delivered enhanced financial capability communication for different customer segments, including 406,000 children through Mathspace and Year 13 partnerships, 918,000 young Australians via The Cusp, 158,000 women through Ruby Connection and 2.5 million Australians aged 65+ via Starts at 60.

Helping people by being there when it matters most to them

Help people recover from financial hardship

19,473 customers received hardship assistance from Westpac Group Assist.

Help people lift out of a difficult time and recover stronger

Provided 65 relief packages for customers impacted by natural disasters across Australia, including bushfires in southern NSW and south east and south west Victoria, Cyclone Marcus in the Northern Territory and floods in northern Queensland.

Helping our most vulnerable customers

Continued to work towards rolling out dementia-friendly banking across Group brands, following New Zealand and St.George.

Helping people creating a prosperous nation

Build the workforce of the future

Progressed the design of a learning and re-skilling program to support employees stay relevant in a rapidly changing workforce.

Invest and back the people and ideas shaping Australia

Westpac Bicentennial Foundation paid $1.7 million in educational scholarships to 45 scholars in First Half 2018, bringing the total cohort of Westpac Scholars to 336;

During the First Half 2018 134 microenterprises, including 39 Indigenous businesses, were established, through our Many Rivers partnership, 1,681 jobs1 were created;

Westpac has directly invested in 25 early stage companies, including 20 through Reinventure. To date, $100 million has been committed to Reinventure as part of two funds; and

Continued the Businesses of Tomorrow program, with the next recipients to be announced in June 2018.

Back the growth of climate change solutions

Increased committed exposure to climate change solutions and environmental services relative to FY17, taking total committed exposure to more than $8.5 billion, progressing towards the 2020 target of $10 billion; and

Launched a neurodiversity internship program to support people on the Autism Spectrum to build a career with the Group; and

Launched the Group’s 2018-2020 Inclusion and Diversity Strategy.

Increase channels where customers can provide feedback

Multiple channels exist, including the Customer Advocate, Customer Council and the ‘Resonate Program’, designed to address specific pain points.

Continuing to lead on the Sustainability fundamentals

Employees

Achieved total recordable injury frequency rate of (TRIFR) 5.0 and lost time injury frequency rate (LTIFR) of 0.3.

Human Rights

Released 2017 Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement; and

Supported the introduction of comparable Australian legislation to the UK Modern Slavery Act.

Sustainability Lending and Investment

BTFG refreshed its Responsible Investment Position Statement.

Environment[1]

Maintained carbon neutral status and on track to achieve a 3% reduction in GHG emissions compared to Full Year 2017, and a reduction of 11% since 2016;

Group paper consumption on track to achieve a 41% reduction in Full Year 2018 since 2016;

Water consumption in all Australian workspaces on track for a 13% reduction, consuming 223,849 kL in First Half 2018; and

Achieved 72% diversion of waste from landfill in Australian offices.

Responsible Sourcing

$2.6 million sourced from diverse suppliers, including $1.7 million from Indigenous suppliers.

Community & Social Impact

6.7% employees participate in volunteering program and 50% in workplace giving.

[1] All results as at 31 March 2018 except environmental footprint and jobs created through the Westpac Foundation Social Scale-up grant and Many Rivers which are as at 31 December 2017. Refer to www.westpac.com.au/sustainability for glossary of terms and metric definitions.

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